PDMS helps Isle of Man Government meet new work permit regulations on time and under budget

10 November 2015

PDMS’ specialist public sector team has delivered important updates to the Department of Economic Development’s (DED) work permit software ahead a schedule and under budget.

PDMS’ team originally built the system in 2007, replacing the DED’s legacy software. The latest development had to be delivered before the Control of Employment Act 2014 came into effect on 1st October 2015. These legislation changes allow people from professions with skills shortages, such as nurses and social workers, to be exempt from work permits. Part of the Governments Digital Strategy, it moves increasing amounts of the process online, improving the service delivered to tax payers as well as reducing costs for the DED.

The project was undertaken by PDMS’s specialist public sector team, led by Senior Project Manager, Steve Callaghan. Commenting on the project, Steve was delighted with the results: “Working in close collaboration with the DED and Government Technical Services throughout the project, the team’s agile development approach helped to ensure the changes to the system were delivered to a tight and fixed deadline. In additional, this project continued to use a flexible commercial model, target costing, which we have used in a number of other government projects, to unsure the deadline was met and the budget kept to.”

Minister for Economic Development, Laurence Skelly MHK added:“The Department's aim is to balance the interests of Isle of Man workers, who continue to be protected by the new Act, with the need of employers to attract the skilled workers they require to be successful which will help secure the economic future of the Isle of Man. As the Chief Minister highlighted in his ‘Agenda for Change’ speech in July's Tynwald we need to develop the enterprise strategy highlighted in Vision2020 where businesses find the right environment to flourish and Government is responsive to their needs. As part of this strategy, we need to give a much greater degree of certainty to local employers and prospective skilled workers who want to move here to take up employment.

“The reforms that we have introduced will reduce bureaucracy and make the Island even more attractive to those interested in setting up new businesses here, which will further help our commitment to achieving job creation. I would like to thank the Government Technology Service and PDMS, both of whom are helping us deliver an innovative and cost-effective IT solution which will improve the service for our customers at lower cost.”

The next stage of the project is due for delivery in early November and will deliver further enhancements including the submission of online applications in addition to the basic online renewals which exists at present.